Drunk boaters cause fatal accident

Two intoxicated boaters caused a deadly accident Father’s Day night on the Des Moines River, killing a 49 year-old knee boarder that was being pulled by one of the boats involved in the crash.

The two men operating the boats were charged with boating while intoxicated. The 46 year-old driver had a blood alcohol level of 0.172, more than twice the legal limit, and the 54 year-old’s was at 0.129. Two passengers in the 54 year-old’s boat were thrown from the vessel and sustained minor injuries.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is currently investigating the cause of the accident. At least a dozen eyewitness statements offer unclear or contradictory events of what transpired.